Some players are made for the big occasion. Whenever the team demands the best out of them, they seem to find a way to deliver. Marizanne Kapp has been a legendary name for South African women’s cricket. With her all-around ability, she has delivered and bailed the team out of some pressure situations and in some of the biggest games.
In the ongoing first semifinal of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, Kapp once again showed her class. She shocked the four-time World Champions, England, twice in the first over of a big chase with the wickets of Amy Jones and Heather Knight.
Notably, England won the toss for this match and put South Africa to bat. The skipper of the Proteas, Laura Wolvaardt, led from the front and played a record-breaking, historic knock of 169 runs. Her knock ensured that England posted a massive total of 319 runs on the board at the end of their 50 overs. Kapp contributed with the bat, too, playing an effective cameo of 42 runs from 33 balls.
{{/usCountry}}Notably, England won the toss for this match and put South Africa to bat. The skipper of the Proteas, Laura Wolvaardt, led from the front and played a record-breaking, historic knock of 169 runs. Her knock ensured that England posted a massive total of 319 runs on the board at the end of their 50 overs. Kapp contributed with the bat, too, playing an effective cameo of 42 runs from 33 balls.
{{/usCountry}}Marizanne Kapp leaves English top-order speechless
The task was steep, and England needed a solid start from their openers. But Marizanne Kapp had something else in mind. The veteran pacer looked on song from the first ball, and the determination to give her team a good start was there in her face.
On the second ball of the first over, Kapp bowled a beauty that left Jones speechless. The ball pitched at a good length area around the off stump and jagged back in. Jones tried to defend the ball on the line but was completely fooled by the late deviation. The ball snuck through the gap between the bat and the pad and crashed into the woodwork behind the batter.
With Jones gone early, England now looked to Heather Knight to provide them with the foundation. However, Knight’s innings lasted only three deliveries as on the fifth ball of the same over, Kapp produced another beauty. She pitched the ball around the same area, but this time took it away from the batter. Knight chased the ball from inside the crease and ended up getting an inside edge. The ball bounced on the deck and rolled back onto the stumps.
If the Kapp-attack was not enough, Ayabonga Khaka joined in and resulted in the demise of Tammy Beaumont, soon. England were struggling at this stage, having lost three wickets for just a single run on the board.
Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt tried to bring England back into the game with a solid 107-run partnership. However, Kapp struck again. This time she picked up the wicket of NSB along with two more. This meant that she completed a five-fer in the semi-final and put her team in the driver's seat. She also overtook India's Jhulan Goswami (43), becoming the highest wicket taker in Women's ODI World Cups. Kapp now has 44 wickets in ODI World Cups.
Notably, Kapp finished her spell with five for 20 in seven overs. She played the crucial role in South Africa's 125-run win. The Proteas now await the winner of the second semi-final (India vs Australia) to play in the summit clash on Sunday.